Environmental

studies
Energy flow and nutrient cycles
 Energy Flow

The sun is the source of all natural energy on earth

Plants are able to absorb the energy from the sun
by using a special pigment called chlorophyll.
The chlorophyll is found in an organelle called
chloroplast.
The plant uses some of this energy for its own activities
like growth, production of organic compounds and for
chemical
reactions.
The rest of this energy is converted to chemical potential
energy and stored in the plant.
 Energy flow:

Plants are able to trap enough energy from the sun for their own needs
and for the needs of the animals.
This is possible because there are more plants than animals.
When herbivores feed on the plants this stored energy is transferred to
the animal’s body.
The animals uses some of the energy for their own activities like growth,
movement, respiration.
The rest of the energy is stored in the animals tissues.
Animals will use more energy than plants because they are more active.
 Energy flow
The energy is transferred from animal to animal as the
animals feed on each other.
The energy is transferred from the herbivores and or
omnivores to the carnivores.
When the plants and animals die the energy still trapped in
their bodies are released by the decomposers.
The decomposers release the energy when they break down
the dead plant and animal matter.
This energy can be used by other plants and animal.
This flow of energy from one living organism to the next is
called energy flow.
 Food chain:
 A food chain shows the transfer of energy from one organism to the
next: grass worm spider  frog
In reality a food chain never exists alone. This is because a
single organism may provide food to many different organisms.
Therefore in nature there is usually a number of interwoven food
chains: called a food web.
 Something for you to do

 Try to complete this food chain

 Trophic levels

A trophic level may also be called a feeding level.

All the plants and animals in any habitat can be grouped
into trophic levels.
There are generally four trophic levels.
Tophic level 1 is made up of all the green plants because
they are able to make their own food by photosynthesis.
These plants also have the highest total energy.
Trophic level 2 is made up of all the organisms that feed on
the green plants. They have a slightly lower energy than
the green plants. These organisms are the herbivores .
 Trophic levels

Trophic level 3 is made up of all the organisms that feed on the

herbivores in trophic level 2.
The organism that make up this trophic level are carnivores. This
trophic level may also be made up of omnivores.
In this trophic level organisms have less energy than the herbivores and
of trophic level 2.

Trophic level 4 is made up of organisms that feed on the carnivores in

trophic level 3.
The carnivores found in trophic level 4 are called top carnivores. They
have less energy than the carnivores of trophic level 3.
This trophic level can be made up of carnivores and omnivores.
Trophic level 1: Producers

Trophic level 2: Primary

consumers

Trophic level 3: Secondary

consumers

Trophic level 4: Tertiary

consumers
 Something to do

Can you name the organisms found in the different

trophic levels?

To which trophic level does the producer belong?

Name all the trophic levels that the omnivores can be a

part of.
Where do the decomposers fit?

The decomposers can occur at any trophic level

depending on which organism they are breaking down.

In a food chain trophic levels occurring in the following

order:
Trophic level 1 trophic level 2 trophic level 3 trophic level 4
 Something for you to do

1. Which food chain correctly describes the flow of

energy in an ecosystem?

A. grass-->cow-->human
B. caterpillar-->leaf-->human
C. cow-->grass-->human
D. leaf-->bird-->caterpillar
2. Rabbits eat grass and other plants to survive, but
they do not eat animals. What kind of animal are
rabbits?

A. decomposers
B. carnivores
C. producers
D. herbivores
3. How do decomposers help other organisms in
an ecosystem?

A. They are food for consumers.

B. Through photosynthesis they can make
their own food.
C. They return nutrients back to the soil.
D. They eat plants
4. In what order do a hawk, grass, and rabbit form
a food chain in a meadow?

A. hawk-->grass-->rabbit
B. grass-->hawk-->rabbit
C. rabbit-->grass-->hawk
D. grass-->rabbit-->hawk
5. Which of the following lists only consumers?

A. hawks, lizards, chipmunks

B. acorns, squirrels, rabbits
C. grass, chipmunks, eagles
D. mice, squirrels, grass
 Solution:

1. A
2. D
3. C
4. D
5. A
 Ecological pyramids
 An ecological pyramid is a graphical representation of the energy or
matter contained within each trophic level.
 Ecological pyramids
From the diagram on the previous slide it is clear that
there are 3 different types of ecological pyramids.

1. Pyramid of energy
2. Pyramid of numbers
3. Pyramid of biomass.
Pyramid of energy

This pyramid shows the

amount of available energy
at each trophic level
 Pyramid of energy

The available energy gets less and less as we move up the

pyramid.
This means that the producers have the most available
energy while the tertiary consumer has the least.
Therefore the amount of energy available in each trophic
level is less than the previous trophic level.
The decreasing available energy results in the pyramid
shape.
Why does the energy decrease at
each trophic level?

There are 3 reasons for the decrease in available energy:

The organisms use some of the energy for their own activities.
Some energy is lost because the organism does not consume
the entire resource.
Some energy is lost as faeces and urine.
Pyramid of
numbers This pyramid shows
the number of
organisms in each
trophic level.

Pyramid shape exists

because the number
of organisms
decreases in each
trophic level from
the bottom to the
top.
 Sometimes the
pyramid of numbers
can be inverted.
Inverted
This can be because a
pyramid of single plant
Rose bush numbers ( e.g. fruit seeds) can
provide food for many
organisms.
aphids
Similarly many
bird organisms can provide
food for a single
organism.
Pyramid of biomass
This pyramid
shows the total
mass of
organisms in
each trophic
level.

This pyramid can

also become
inverted, if the
ecosystem
becomes
imbalanced.
 Assessment task

Study the following paragraph and answer the questions

that follow:
A baboon was seen lifting stones and looking for food in a patch of
grass. The baboon found some beetles and ate them. Every so
often, the baboon would scratch himself, because he had a large
number of fleas on his body

1. Draw a food chain which clearly illustrates the feeding relationships

described above. [4]
2. Draw a pyramid of numbers to illustrate the
description above. [4]
3. What is a pyramid of numbers? Comment on the
shape of this pyramid of numbers in your
answer. [3]

4. Draw a food web which illustrates a feeding

relationship between at least ten organisms.
Include the four organisms in the food chain you
drew in number 1. [10]
5. Choose one organism in the food web you drew in
number 4 and draw a circle around this organism.
Imagine that this organism was eliminated (removed)
completely from the feeding relationship. What
impact would this have on the rest of the food web?
Explain fully. [4]

[25 marks]
Activity 3.3.3 pg 250 no 1 and 2 only
 Solutions

1. Grass  Beetle  Baboon  Flea

2. pyramid
 Solutions

3. A pyramid of numbers shows the relative numbers of

organisms  in a particular food chain;  usually a pyramid has
the smallest portion on top, this one does not. 
4. Learner responses will differ. Mark according to the web they
produce. Check that arrows flow in the correct direction (in the
direction of energy flow) and check that links are realistic. One
mark per organism correctly inserted in the web.
5. Learners will vary. However they should indicate that the
ecosystem will become imbalanced. They should indicate how
trophic level before and after the chosen one is altered.
 Nutrient recycling

Nutrient recycling is the process that ensures that nutrients

become available for reuse.

Some examples of these important nutrients are carbon

dioxide, water vapour, oxygen, minerals and energy.

Nutrient recycling occurs in the following general way.

 Nutrient recycling occurs in the
following general way.

During photosynthesis green plants use sunlight, carbon dioxide and

water to make food in the form of glucose.
When the primary consumers (herbivores and omnivores) feed on the
green plants the food is transferred to their bodies.

Remember this food contains carbon (glucose), water, and

energy.

When the secondary consumer (carnivores) feed on the primary

consumer the food is transferred to their bodies from the primary
consumer.
 Role of decomposers in nutrient recycling

 When any of these organisms die (producer, primary,

secondary or tertiary consumer) their bodies are
broken down by decomposers.
 Decomposers release nutrients so that they can be
reused.
 The decomposers releases carbon dioxide and energy
in the form of heat into the atmosphere and water
vapour and mineral salts into the soil.
 Without nutrient recycling important nutrients will
become exhausted.
Water cycle
 Homework

 Draw figure:
 3.3.3 – page 253
 Water cycle

 Water cycle ensures that water supply is never exhausted.

The water cycle occurs as follows:
 Water vapor from the atmosphere falls to the ground.
 This water vapors can fall to the earth as rain, dew, frost,
mist and hail: precipitation.
 Some of this water reaches the soil and then runs off into
the rives and streams
 Some of this water will also reach the dams, lakes and
oceans.
 Water cycle
 The ground water may soak into the soil.
One of two things may happen to this water:
 It may remain in the soil as capillary water around the soil particles
or it may reach the water table.
 Plants absorb the water from the soil using their roots.
 Animals obtain their water from the rivers, lakes and streams or from
the food they eat.
 This water is then used by plants and animals for various functions.
 Plants lose some of the water as water vapour during the process of
transpiration.
 Animals also lose some water as water vapour during the process of
respiration.
 Animals also lose water during sweating and breathing.
 Evaporation

 When the ground, air or water surface becomes heated

the water changes from a liquid into a gas.
 This gas is called water vapour.
 The process by which water changes from a liquid to a
gas is evaporation.
 The water vapour then rises into the atmosphere with
the warm air that rises.
 As the water vapour goes to higher altitudes cooling of
this water occurs.
 Condensation

 As the water vapour goes to higher altitudes cooling of this water

occurs.
 When the water vapour cools it changes from a gaseous state to a
liquid state: condensation.
 This results in the formations of clouds.
 The air becomes saturated when more and more water collects at
this level, clouds will form.
 The clouds then become heavy ( the clouds are holding the
maximum amount of water in a specific volume at a specific
temperature.)
 Then the water begins to fall as precipitation.
 The cycle is completed and begins all over again.
 Carbon cycle

 The concentration of carbon dioxide in the air 0,03%.

 The carbon in the form of carbon dioxide is used by green
plants to manufacture food by photosynthesis.
 Carbon dioxide is released by both plants and animals
during the process of cellular respiration.
 While photosynthesis uses up carbon dioxide, cellular
respiration releases it.
 In this way the levels of carbon dioxide is maintained.
 Carbon cycle

 Carbon dioxide is absorbed by green plants from the

atmosphere and water to be used during photosynthesis.
 The carbon is used to make glucose and then other organic
material.
 When the consumers (herbivores, omnivores and
carnivores) feed on the plant that organic material is
transferred to the to these consumers.
 The carbon is now present in the bodies of both plants and
animals.
 Carbon cycle

The carbon occurs in organic compounds such has

carbohydrates, proteins, lipids, hormones, pigments,
enzymes etc.
REMEMBER: organic compounds contains carbon.
 During cellular respiration all living organisms release
carbon dioxide.
 The carbon dioxide is released into the water or
atmosphere.
 When plants and animals die decomposers break down
their bodies and release carbon dioxide into the
atmosphere or soil.
 Carbon cycle

 Sometimes carbon becomes trapped in the bodies of dead

plants and animals when these organisms do not
decompose.
 These dead bodies become compressed and form fossil
fuels such as coal, oil and gas.
 When these fossil fuels are burnt the carbon dioxide
trapped in them is released.
The cycle then starts over.
Carbon cycle
 Draw figure:
 3.3.4 – page 254
 Oxygen cycle

 Oxygen is required by both plants and animals for cellular

respiration.

 Oxygen is found in the atmosphere and dissolved in the

water.

 The concentration of oxygen in the atmosphere is 21%.

 Oxygen cycle

 Oxygen found in both the atmosphere and water is used by both

plants and animals during cellular respiration to release the energy
trapped in food.
 Oxygen is also used during the combustion (burning) of fossil fuels.
 The levels of oxygen decreases.
 Both combustion and cellular respiration releases carbon dioxide .
 This carbon dioxide is used by plants during photosynthesis to make
organic compounds.
 During photosynthesis oxygen is released and the levels of oxygen
return to normal.
The cycle begins once more.
 Oxygen cycle
To release Oxygen in the
oxygen water and
atmosphere is

Carbon dioxide is Used by plants and

used by plants Combustion of animals during
during Fossil fuels cellular respiration
photosynthesis to

Release
enters the
carbon
water and
dioxide
atmosphere
which
 Draw figures:
 3.3.5 – page 255
 Nitrogen cycle

 About 79% of the atmosphere is made up of nitrogen.

 Nitrogen is required to manufacture proteins by both
plants and animals.
 Plants cannot absorb nitrogen as it occurs in the
atmosphere.
 The nitrogen must first be converted to nitrates before
the plants absorbs it.
 Animals obtain their nitrogen when they feed on plants
or feed on animals that feed on plants.
 Nitrogen cycle

 Since plants can only absorb nitrogen in the form of

nitrates, atmospheric nitrogen must first be converted into
nitrates before it is absorbed by the plants.
 This conversion can take place in 2 ways:
1. Lightening and rain can convert the nitrogen into nitrate.
2. Nitrogen fixing bacteria found in the soil converts the
nitrogen in the soil into nitrate which then can absorbed
by the plants.
 Nitrogen cycle

 Plants then uses the nitrates to manufacture

proteins.
 Nitrates are transferred to animals when they
feed on plants or animals that have fed on plants.
 When the plants and animals die the
decomposers breaks down the dead and decaying
matter to release nitrites.
 Other bacteria then converts the nitrites into
nitrates.
 Nitrogen cycle

One of two things may happen to the nitrates:

 It maybe absorbed by plants to manufacture

proteins.
 Denitrifying bacteria may convert the
nitrates back into nitrogen and the cycle
continues.
Nitrogen cycle
 Homework 

 Activity 3.3.5
 Page 256
Environmental concerns and nutrient
recycling
Effects of the enhanced greenhouse
effect pg 257.
 TERMINOLOGY

 This flow of energy from one living organism to the next

is called energy flow.
 A food chain shows the transfer of energy from one
organism to the next organism.
 A trophic level can also be called a feeding level.
 An ecological pyramid is a graphical representation of
the energy or matter contained within each trophic level.
 Pyramid of energy shows the amount of available energy
at each trophic level
 Terminology

 Pyramid of numbers shows the number of organisms in each

trophic level.
 Pyramid of biomass shows the total mass of organisms in
each trophic level.
 Nutrient recycling is the process that ensures that nutrients
become available for reuse.
 Precipitation is when water vapors can fall to the earth as
rain, dew, frost, mist and hail.
 The process by which water changes from a liquid to a gas is
called evaporation.
 Condensation is when the water vapour cools it changes
from a gaseous state to a liquid state.
 Terminology

 Water is an inorganic compound made up of

hydrogen and oxygen.
 Nitrogen fixing bacteria converts the nitrogen in the
soil into nitrate which then can absorbed by the
plants.
 The nitrifying bacteria converts the nitrates into
nitrates.
 Denitrifying bacteria converts the nitrates back into
nitrogen and the cycle continues.